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New analysis by Dr. Carla M. Harris and Dr. Sandra Sessoms-Penny outlines practical mentoring strategies that can counter employee burnout and rebuild confidence, performance and well-being

������Ƶ College of Doctoral Studies announces the publication of a new white paper, “Recovering from Burnout Through Mentoring,” authored by Carla M. Harris, Ed.D., and Sandra Sessoms-Penny, Ed.D, both Fellows at the Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement, and Belonging (CO-WEB). The paper examines how structured mentorship can support employees experiencing burnout and offers actionable guidance for organizations and leaders to foster resilience and engagement.  

Grounded in current research and insights from the University’s Career Optimism Index® study, the authors note that employee burnout remains pervasive, with 51% of U.S. workers reporting that they experience it, and argue that mentoring is a scalable, human-centered lever that can improve personal agency and workplace outcomes.

The white paper summarizes evidence-based benefits of mentoring for individuals navigating burnout, including helping mentees boost self-confidence, improve job performance, reduce stress and enhance overall well-being. It also details common emotional, physical and mental signs of employee burnout and provides practical strategies for recovery such as prioritizing self-care, reframing work perspective, reassessing priorities and seeking support.

“Mentorship gives people a partner in problem-solving,” said Harris. “When mentors offer consistent feedback, accountability and encouragement, employees can rebuild confidence and re-engage with their work in healthier, more sustainable ways.”

“Organizations don’t have to wait for burnout to become a crisis,” added Sessoms-Penny. “By equipping mentors and managers with clear frameworks, leaders can normalize help-seeking, reduce stigma and create pathways back to purpose and performance.”

The full white paper is available on the ������Ƶ Career Institute® webpage or on the College of Doctoral Studies’ Research Hub.

Harris is an experienced early childhood educator whose educational research focuses on issues in leadership, mentoring and student success. Sessoms-Penny is a Senior Research Fellow at CO-WEB and serves as a University Research Methodologist and faculty member in the College of Doctoral Studies.

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About the College of Doctoral Studies

������Ƶ’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.